Palestinian officials ask to join South Africa’s case at UN’s top court, accusing Israel of genocide
By Mike Corder, Associated Press
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Palestinian officials have asked the U.N.’s top court for permission to join South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The request released Monday alleges that Israel’s ongoing military operation is “part of a systematic effort to wipe out Palestinian society, its culture and its social institutions.” The request to the International Court of Justice was presented on behalf of the “State of Palestine” and signed by Ammar Hijazi, head of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
South Africa filed a complaint with the international tribunal late last year, accusing Israel of violating the genocide convention during its military attack that ravaged large swaths of Gaza. Israel denies committing genocide as part of its military operation to crush Hamas sparked by the deadly October 7 attacks.
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.
Israel is expanding its offensive in the southern town of Rafah, once the main hub of humanitarian aid operations. The Israeli invasion has largely disrupted the supply of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians facing widespread hunger.
Israeli bombings and ground operations in Gaza have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
The court issued three preliminary orders in the case calling on Israel to do everything in its power to prevent deaths in the enclave, step up humanitarian aid and, most recently, end its offensive in Rafah.
It is unclear how long it will take for court judges to rule on the request. If the ruling is granted, Palestinian officials will be able to address the court in writing and during public hearings.
In their request, the Palestinians said they were directly affected by South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel.
“The Israeli attack wiped out and damaged Gaza’s hospitals, mosques, churches, universities, schools, homes, shops and infrastructure beyond recognition, in an effort systematic aiming to wipe Palestinian society, its culture and its social institutions off the map. ” says the request.
The request adds that Israel is violating the Court’s orders and continuing “its genocidal acts, including deliberately and systematically obstructing humanitarian assistance, resulting in a situation of intentionally engineered famine and increasingly imminent creeping famine.”
The Palestinians have already appeared in court. In 2018, the Palestinian Authority filed a lawsuit asking its judges to order Washington to remove the relocated US embassy from Jerusalem. The case followed the decision by then-US President Donald Trump’s administration to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
This matter remains before the courts, where cases can take years to resolve.
The International Court of Justice rules on cases between states. The United Nations General Assembly voted last month to grant Palestine new rights and privileges, but reaffirmed that it remains a non-member observer state, without full UN membership and without the right to vote at the General Assembly or at one of its conferences.
The United States has made clear it will block Palestinian membership and statehood until direct negotiations with Israel resolve key issues, including security, borders and the future of Jerusalem , and lead to a two-state solution.
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